Material collector with back dumping hamper

ABSTRACT

A lawn sweeper having a removable hamper for collecting projected material which can be dumped rearwardly from a pulling vehicle by means of a rope and which automatically returns to down position upon rope release. The lawn sweeper chassis is connected to the hamper by a support means which limits the up position of the hamper to insure automatic return, provides structural strength, and serves to secure the hamper in down position. The back dumping is accomplished by the rope which is threaded progressively through levers depending from the hamper pivot means which provide a significant mechanical advantage. The material projector is vertically adjustable through a mechanism operable by the person on the towing vehicle.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Walter Franklin Ruhl 3,493,987 2/1970 Longnecker 15/83 A I No 3 Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts f 27, 1969 AnorneyWynne and Finken [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Lambert Incorporated Dayton, Ohio 54 1 MATERIAL COLLECTOR WITH BACK DUMPING ABSTRACT: lawn sweeper having a removable hamper for HAMPER collecting pro ected material which can be dumped rear- 9 claims, 11 Drawing Fig wardly from a pulling vehicle by means of a rope and which automatically returns to down position upon rope release. The [52] US. Cl. 15/79, lawn Sweeper chassis is connected to the hamper by a Support 15/83 56/400'o2 means which limits the up position of the hamper to insure au- 1] Int. Cl E01]! 1/04 tomatic return provides structural Strength and Serves to [50] Field Of Search 15/79, 83, secure the hamper i down position The back p g is 298/ 56/400-02' 400-13 complished by the rope which is threaded progressively I 56] References Cited through levers depending from the hamper pivot means which provide a significant mechanical advantage. The material pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS jector is vertically adjustable through a mechanism operable 3,035,294 5/1962 Stout et al 15/79 by the person on the towing vehicle.

Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,786

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALTER FRANKLIN RUHL ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3,597,786

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :0 m H09 v? 2 INVEN'IOR WALTER FRANKLIN RUHL ATTORNEYS MATERIAL COLLECTOR WITH BACK DUMPING HAMPER This invention provides a towable back dumping hamper for use on lawns, driveways and the like. The structure enables the operator to back dump the hamper by a rope carried by levers supported on and depending from one of the hamper pivot means.

The machine includes three basic units, namely, the wheeled chassis, the support means and the hamper.

The chassis includes a projecting means, such as a mower or brush rotatable on a vertical or horizontal axis which projects material from lawns, driveways etc. into the open front end of the hamper.

The removable hamper is pivotally supported in side bearing means on the support means for oscillating movement between a full up dumping position and a full down receiving position, the limits of its oscillating movement being controlled by stop means in the form of a transverse crossbar of the support means. The bearing means have open ended slotsfor receipt of side axles on the hamper which facilitates removal of the hamper rearwardly from the support means.

The lower surface of the crossbar establishes the full down position of the hamper and the upper surface establishes the full up position. The crossbar further serves to rigidify the support means and provides a catch for a latch on the hamper to prevent upward movement when the hamper is in full down position.

The bearing means and the axles are structurally coordinated to insure the automatic return of the hamper to a predetermined full down position, when the dump rope is released.

The brush can be easily raised or lowered by the operator from his position on the towing vehicle through an adjusting handle at the front end of the chassis.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of the sweeper;

FIG. 2 is a left-side perspective view of the sweeper showing the hamper being moved into assembled position as indicated by the arrow;

FIG. 3 is a side view with some parts left off showing the hamper in down position with the arrow indicating latch release movement;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the hamper partially rotated;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the hamper rotated almost to full up dumping position with all debris being dumped rearwardly of the casters and away from the brush;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the catch and latch;

FIG. 7 is'a view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. Sis a side view ofthe right side pivot means;

FIG. 9 is a top view with parts broken away showing the brush drive, the chassis box type construction and the vertical adjustment connection;

FIG. 10 is a right side view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9 of the chassis with phantom lines showing a lowered position of the rotating brush; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmented view showing the details of the chassis adjustment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, it will be seen that the sweeper includes a chassis 15 having front wheels 16, the right one of which drives the horizontal brush 17 through gearpinion 14 (FIG. 9). The bottom framework members of the chassis include side members 18 and internal cross brace members 19 which support rear pivotal wheels or casters 20. The hauling member 21 is provided for attachment to a towing vehicle. Vertical adjustment of the projecting means or brush 17 is provided by a handle 25 which pivotally attaches at its lower end to bumper 26 which in turn is pivotally swung on the shaft 10 of brush 17. The shaft 11 of front gear 14 is guided in arcuate slot 12 on each side of shield 27. The handle 25 passes upwardly through a handle hole 28 in bracket 29 mounted on shield 27 to a position easily reached by the vehicle operator. The bumper 26 (FIG. 9) includes the extension 22 rigidly connected thereto and pivotally swung from brush shaft 10; extension 22 also serves as a bearing for front gear 14 an wheel 16. The shield 27 includes a rear brace 23 which along with the above pivoting brush-drive-wheel unit provides sound structural integrity.

The hamper 30 has an open front and top and at its intermediate upper and rearward portion has side pivot means 35,35 with axles 31,32.

The support means 40 includes connection means for rigid connection to the chassis 15, these being the bolted connections 41,41 at the shield 27 for the upwardly and rearwardly extending side tubes 42 and the bolted connections 38,38 at the wheels or casters 20 for the substantially vertical or upwardly extending side pipes 43. It will be noted that side pipes 43 in FIG. 1 are bent slightly rearwardly at their upper portion and in FIG. 3 extend slightly rearwardly; this insures dumping to the rear of the casters 20. The side tubes 42 and the side pipes 43 converge upwardly and rearwardly toward each other and are united at their respective bearing means 45,46, each means being positioned at the rearward intermediate upward portion of its respective sides of the support means. The crossbar 50 has legs 51,51 which extend rearwardly and upwardly from the bearing means 45,46. Preferably, the crossbar 50 is U-shaped and united with the upper ends of the side tubes 42 to facilitate assembly. The crossbar 50 rigidities the support means 40 and provides a catch portion 48 to a latch means 61 on the hamper.

The crossbar 50 and bearing means 45,46 are dimensionally coordinated with the transverse center of gravity of the hamper 30, its axles 31,32 and its slanting top side frame members 64,64 so that the hamper 30 always tends to swing downwardly and forwardly from its full up position to its full down and latched position.

The side frame members 64,64 of the hamper have a slight upward slant to the rear which places their most rearward portions under the crossbar 50 when in down position and places their intermediate forward portions on top of the crossbar 50 in up position. At all positions within the arc of oscillation allowed the hamper 30 by the crossbar 50, the transverse center of gravity of the hamper is located in front of the bearing means 45,46.

The right side pivot means 35 has guide means 37 for guiding rope 36 to the front and for insuring the rope extends substantially along a significant portion of the backwall of the hamper at least while the top rear of the hamper is near (above or below) and above the horizontal transverse axis of pivot means 35 to provide a significant mechanical advantage. In the embodiment shown the guide means 37 includes rearward lever 33 and a forward lever 34, each being pivotally mounted on the right pivot means 35 of the hamper. The free depending ends of the levers 33,34 have eyes for receiving and guiding the rope 36. The rope 36 is connected to the top of latch means 61 (FIG. 6), threaded through eye bolt 62 at the top right hamper corner, through levers 33 and 34 and then through eye bolt 63 on the support means 40 to the towing vehicle. The latch 61 is pivotally mounted on the right top frame member 64, and spring 65 urges latch 61 into forward latching position embracing crossbar 50.

The structural relationship of the above system provides the operator with a significant mechanical advantage, particularly during the initial upward swing of the hamper.

The lever embodiment shown includes a front stop 66 (FIG 8) for preventing forward swinging of the front lever to thereby maintain it in a substantially vertical position at least,

until the hamper has been swung some distance from its full down position. A rear stop 67 is provided for preventing forward swinging of the rear lever to maintain its free end and the rope at the backwall of the hamper. Dimensional and weight details will, of course, determine the systems parameters; however, the unit shown operates most effectively when the levers are arranged as shown in full down position with the front lever substantially vertical and the rear lever at about a 55 angle rearwardly thereof.

FIGS. 9-11 show the vertical adjustment handle 25 and its related mechanism for vertically adjusting the brush. The bracket 29 mounted on the shield 27 has a front downwardly extending flange 70 which has a lock pin 71 projecting rearwardly for seating in one of the vertical series of openings 72 in the handle. A biasing means or spring 73 is connected to the flange 70 and has a protecting tube 74 mounted thereon for biasing engagement against the handle to force the handle into locked position with the lock pin 71.

Preferably hamper 30 has a bottom which slopes downwardly to the rear to bounce the material to the rear for better and complete loading. The rear vertical frame members 55,55 of the hamper can be removed to facilitate storage by collapsing the movable hamper about its pivoted links 56,56. Preferably the axles 31,32 have headed outer ends to insure retention in the bearing means 45,46.

l claim:

1. A machine comprising a chassis, a hamper, and support means for pivotally connecting said hamper to said chassis,

said chassis including a projecting means for projecting material rearwardly into said hamper, said hamper when in down position presenting an open front for receipt of material and including pivot means on each side thereof, I

said support means including connection means at its lower portion rigidly connecting the support means to said chassis, bearing means at its rearward intermediate upper portion at each side thereof pivotally supporting said pivot means, and a crossbar at its upper portion rearward and above said bearing means for limiting oscillation of said hamper to place it in a material receiving position when down and to place it in a material dumping position when its front is swung upwardly and rearwardly to full up position,

said bearing means supporting said pivot means at a position such that the hamper always tends to swing downwardly and forwardly from its full up position in contact with the top of said crossbar to its down position in engagement with the bottom of said crossbar.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said chassis includes front and rear wheels,

said support means includes side tubes secured to and extending upwardly and rearwardly from the chassis to said bearing means, and side pipes extending substantially upwardly from said rear wheels to said bearing means, said crossbar extending rearwardly from said bearing means to rigidify the support means.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 and wherein said hamper has a latch means at its upper rearward portion which coacts with said crossbar to lock the hamper in down position.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 and wherein a dump rope extends from said latch means, one of said pivot means has depending swinging levers, said rope is threaded through the free ends of said levers to the front for latch means release and dumping pivoting of said hamper.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said projecting means comprising a transversely mounted rotatable brush, mounting means are provided which swingably mount the front wheels on said chassis to enable adjustment of the position of said brush with respect to said front wheels, lock means are provided to secure said wheels in a preselected position including a bracket extending from the front of the chassis having a handle hole and a flange adjacent said hole, a lock pin extending from said flange, a vertical handle pivotally mounted on said mounting means and extending upwardly through said handle hole and having a series of lock pin openings for selectwely receiving said lock pin, and biasing means urging said handle toward said lock pin.

6. A machine as defined in claim I wherein said pivot means includes horizontal side axles which extend transversely outwardly from the hamper and said bearing means has upwardly and rearwardly extending openended bearing slots which receive said axis and provide for removability of the hamper from the support means.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein a dump rope is attached to a top portion of the hamper,

guide means for guiding said rope to the front and for insuring said rope extends substantially along a significant portion of the backwall of the hamper at least while the top rear of the hamper is near and above the horizontal axis of said pivot means to provide a significant mechanical advantage.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said rope is attached to a top rear corner of the hamper, and

the guide means includes a rear lever and a front lever each pivotally mounted on the pivot means nearest said corner, the free ends of said levers guiding said rope, a front stop for. preventing forward swinging of the front lever to maintain it in a substantially depending vertical position at least until the hamper has been swung some distance from its full down position, and a rear stop for preventing forward swinging of the rear lever to maintain its free end at the backwall of the bumper.

9. A machine comprising a chassis, a hamper, and support means for pivotally connecting said hamper to said chassis,

said chassis including a projecting means for projecting material rearwardly into said hamper,

said hamper when in down position presenting an open front for receipt of material and including pivot means on each side thereof,

said support means including connection means at its lower portion rigidly connecting the support means to said chassis, bearing means at its rearward intermediate upper portion at each side thereof pivotally supporting said pivot means, and means for limiting oscillation of said hamper to place it in a material receiving position when down and to place it in a material dumping position when its front is swung upwardly and rearwardly to full up position,

said bearing means supporting said pivot means at a position such that the hamper always tends to swing downwardly and forwardly from its full up position to its down position,

a dump rope attached to a top portion of the hamper, and

guide means for guiding said rope to the front and for insuring said rope extends from said top portion of the hamper substantially along a significant portion of the backwall of the hamper at least while the top rear of the hamper is near and above the horizontal axis of said pivot means to provide a significant mechanical advantage. 

1. A machine comprising a chassis, a hamper, and support means for pivotally connecting said hamper to said chassis, said chassis including a projecting means for projecting material rearwardly into said hamper, said hamper when in down position presenting an open front for receipt of material and including pivot means on each side thereof, said support means including connection means at its lower portion rigidly connecting the support means to said chassis, bearing means at its rearward intermediate upper portion at each side thereof pivotally supporting said pivot means, and a crossbar at its upper portion rearward and above said bearing means for limiting oscillation of said hamper to place it in a material receiving position when down and to place it in a material dumping position when its front is swung upwardly and rearwardly to full up position, said bearing means supporting said pivot means at a position such that the hamper always tends to swing downwardly and forwardly from its full up position in contact with the top of said crossbar to its down position in engagement with the bottom of said crossbar.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said chassis includes front and rear wheels, said support means includes side tubes secured to and extending upwardly and rearwardly from the chassis to said bearing means, and side pipes extending substantially upwardly from said rear wheels to said bearing means, said crossbar extending rearwardly from said bearing means to rigidify the support means.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 2 and wherein said hamper has a latch means at its upper rearward portion which coacts with said crossbar to lock the hamper in dowN position.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 3 and wherein a dump rope extends from said latch means, one of said pivot means has depending swinging levers, said rope is threaded through the free ends of said levers to the front for latch means release and dumping pivoting of said hamper.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said projecting means comprising a transversely mounted rotatable brush, mounting means are provided which swingably mount the front wheels on said chassis to enable adjustment of the position of said brush with respect to said front wheels, lock means are provided to secure said wheels in a preselected position including a bracket extending from the front of the chassis having a handle hole and a flange adjacent said hole, a lock pin extending from said flange, a vertical handle pivotally mounted on said mounting means and extending upwardly through said handle hole and having a series of lock pin openings for selectively receiving said lock pin, and biasing means urging said handle toward said lock pin.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes horizontal side axles which extend transversely outwardly from the hamper and said bearing means has upwardly and rearwardly extending open-ended bearing slots which receive said axis and provide for removability of the hamper from the support means.
 7. A machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein a dump rope is attached to a top portion of the hamper, guide means for guiding said rope to the front and for insuring said rope extends substantially along a significant portion of the backwall of the hamper at least while the top rear of the hamper is near and above the horizontal axis of said pivot means to provide a significant mechanical advantage.
 8. A machine as defined in claim 7 and wherein said rope is attached to a top rear corner of the hamper, and the guide means includes a rear lever and a front lever each pivotally mounted on the pivot means nearest said corner, the free ends of said levers guiding said rope, a front stop for preventing forward swinging of the front lever to maintain it in a substantially depending vertical position at least until the hamper has been swung some distance from its full down position, and a rear stop for preventing forward swinging of the rear lever to maintain its free end at the backwall of the bumper.
 9. A machine comprising a chassis, a hamper, and support means for pivotally connecting said hamper to said chassis, said chassis including a projecting means for projecting material rearwardly into said hamper, said hamper when in down position presenting an open front for receipt of material and including pivot means on each side thereof, said support means including connection means at its lower portion rigidly connecting the support means to said chassis, bearing means at its rearward intermediate upper portion at each side thereof pivotally supporting said pivot means, and means for limiting oscillation of said hamper to place it in a material receiving position when down and to place it in a material dumping position when its front is swung upwardly and rearwardly to full up position, said bearing means supporting said pivot means at a position such that the hamper always tends to swing downwardly and forwardly from its full up position to its down position, a dump rope attached to a top portion of the hamper, and guide means for guiding said rope to the front and for insuring said rope extends from said top portion of the hamper substantially along a significant portion of the backwall of the hamper at least while the top rear of the hamper is near and above the horizontal axis of said pivot means to provide a significant mechanical advantage. 